Automatic door mat for automobiles



Jan. 29, 1952 J. sHucK AUTOMATIC DOOR MT FOR AUTOMOBILES 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed June 5, 1950 James L. Shack INVENTOR.

Jan. 29, 1952 J L, SHUCK 2,583,894

AUTOMATIC DOOR MAT MFOR AUTOMOBILES Filed June 5, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Jmes L. Sha/bk INVENmR.

BY WWF-ww Patented Jan. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT oFEICE AUTOMATIC DOOR MAT FOR AUTOMOBILES James L. Shuck, Corydon, Ind.

Application June 5, 1950, I'SerialNo.. 166,107

1 Claim. (Cl. 2811-166) This invention relates to improvements in at tachments for vehicles.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved step and shoe cleaner pad for an automobile of the type which has a swinging door and a frame, thedevice including a mounting assembly having a pair of tubes with sleeves slidable on the tubes and a step secured to said tubes, the assembly being located adjacent the door of the vehicle whereby when the step is moved outwardly it may be used by the individual concerned with entering or leaving the vehicle and whereby a means may be attached to the door of the vehicle for moving the step inwardly to an inoperative position in response to and as a direct result of closing the door.

A'further object of this invention is to provide a device of the class described above which has incorporated therewith an improved latching device which is foot-operated so that it will be convenient not only to use but also to operate.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty will become apparent in following the description of the illustrated form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of a vehicle showing the device in use;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of the undercarriage of a vehicle showing the attachment applied thereto;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the attachment, portions being broken away in section to illustrate internal detail;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 and in the direction of the arrows:

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 and in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 3 and in the direction of the arrows.

In carrying out the invention there is illustrated a part of a vehicle I8 with the usual undercarriage including a frame I2, and a door I4.

A pair of sleeves I6 and I8 respectively are held in spaced and parallel relationship by means of a mounting bracket which includes a plate welded or otherwise rigidly xed to each sleeve. Conventional bolts 22 and 24 passing through holes in the mounting plate 20 are used to attach the sleeves to one of the members of the frame I2 adjacent a side of the vehicle. Collars 26 and 28 which are slightly larger in diameter than the sleeves I8 and I6, are welded or other- 2 wise rigidly ilxed to the sleeves intermediate their ends.

A pair of tubes 29 and' 38 respectively are slidable on the exterior surface of the sleeves I6 and I8 and the inner ends thereof form a limiting means for the sliding movement of the tubes on the sleeves. The irmer ends of the tubes are adapted to engage the sponge rubber bushings 32 which form stops, anti-rattling devices, and also dirt and water shields. Of course, in lieu of sponge rubber, other resilie'ntlmaterial may be employed.

The outer ends of the tube are iixedi to a ilange 34 around the step 36 which has a replaceable mat 38 thereon. The step is used in the capacity as shown in Figure 1 and is movable inwardly and outwardly with respect to the side of the vehicle. The step may be made of grate type which would allow dirt to fall through.

In order that` the tubes 29and 30 move in unison, a strap 40 is welded thereto and has an upwardly extending bracket 42 carried thereby, as by the bolt 44. This upwardly extending bracket is xed to the inside edge of the step 36 thereby insuring a rm connection between that end of the step and the tubes, the opposite end of the step being connected by means of welding or the like to the outer ends of the tubes 29 and 36.

An operating bracket 45 is secured to the door I4 of the vehicle and extends downwardly therefrom. This bracket is provided with a rubber bumper 46 which is mounted on the bolt 48. carried by the bracket 45, and a spring 50 reacting on the bumper 46 and a part of the bracket 45 serves as a shock absorber. The purpose of the bracket 45 is to close the step 36 automatically and in response to closing the door of the vehicle.

Each sleeve is provided with a spring 52 and 54 respectively, the springs reacting on the closed inner ends of the sleeves and the step 36, constantly urging the step outwardly from the side of the vehiclel thereby constantly urging the tubes 29 and 30 in an extensible manner with respect to the sleeves I6 and I8. Guide rods 56 and 58 for the springs are arranged in concentric relation with the springs 52 and 54.

Accordingly. the previously described structural arrangement provides a step which will be urged constantly outwardly from the lside oi' the vehicle and which may be closed either by a person pushing it with his or her foot or may be closed by simply shutting the door oi' the vehicle and having the strap 45 used for a. doo closer.

A latch generally indicated at lill4 is provided for the purpose of releasably holding the step in the closed position. This latch consists of an angle member 62 which is welded to a strap 64 adjacent one end thereof. The strapl is xed to the' frame I2 of the vehicle adjacent the step by suitable means, as the bolts 65 and 66. The connection between thestrap 64 and-621s suiiiciently far fromltheouter endof the strap't allow the strap to be iiexed. A foot plate 68 is disposed on the outer end of the strap 64 and is opposed in its flexing operation by meansof ,the spring Y Vwhich bears against the bottom surface of the strap 64. A limit strip l2 is secured to the angle member 62 and extends to a position below the foot plate 63. This provides a limitV for the downward movement of the strap 64. To simplify manufacturing of the.latch,rstrap 64 could be made of the necessary spring steel and jcou'ld alone serve as a latch.

A transverse ranglernember 80 is bolted or otherwise rigidly' fixed to Vthe strap 64 and is movable with the strap B4. A flange 4of the transverse angle member liti isV disposed in theV notch 82 which opens downwardly in the flange 34 around at least a part of 'the lstep 36.

In operation of Vthe latch, the Ifoot receiving member 68 is depressed thereby separating the vertical flange 8| of the angle member 80 from the notch 82. 5&1 to urge the step 36joutwardly to a position where the stored energy of the springs will no longer-overcome the' frictional resistancebetween the tubes andsleeves.

The moving of the step inwardly has been described pr evi usly. V 5 Y It will be noted that vifl found desirable, the entire assemblyY may be covered by a platen order to prevent a collection of 'dirt'threon It Thispermits the springs 52 andi is within the purview and teaching of this nvention to provide other modications such as the extension of the plate 2l) so as to also mount the inner end of the latching assembly. This is probably the preferable system inasmuch as only one assembly need be attached to the vehicle by this expedient. Y

Having described the invention,. what is claimed as new is: Y

In a vehicle' which includes a frame and door, an attachment comprising a" step, means attached to the frame for supporting said step, a spring carried by said means constantly urging said step outwardlyho said means, a latch releasably" holding said step inwardly of said means.

andan operator secured to the door and engage- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in' the iiie of this; patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IYENTS Number Name Date '156,507 Knopf Apr. 5', 1904 V1,017,09i Harris et al. Feb. 1 3., `11912 1,154,228 Baumann gv ..r Sept. 21,191.5- llifg Goss .s.... Feb.V 8, l1927 1,621,997 .Nigro Mar. 22, ,1927 i,7`v1 8,428 McNulty June 25, 1923 2,018,064 Hofacker -Oct. 422,.1935 V,Evans f e-. Jan. 3-1, l193,9 

